The year 2024 brought several opportunities for Sanja and Stevan to present their research, participate in international scientific meetings and collaborate with colleagues from different institutions and research fields.
From atomistic modeling and solvent effects to advanced materials, water purification and machine learning, the conferences attended during the year reflected the interdisciplinary nature of their research activities. They also provided opportunities for younger members of the EMOS research group to gain international experience and present their scientific results.
Here are some of the highlights from 2024 which we didn’t cover in our previous posts.
ISSP21: International Symposium on Solubility Phenomena in Novi Sad
One of the important scientific events of 2024 was the 21st IUPAC International Symposium on Solubility Phenomena and Related Equilibrium Processes (ISSP21), held in Novi Sad, Serbia.
The symposium brought together researchers from around the world to discuss solubility phenomena, chemical equilibria, solvent effects and their applications in environmental science, pharmaceutical research and other fields.
Stevan contributed to the scientific program with a lecture entitled “The Role of Atomistic Calculations in Modeling Solvent Effects.” His presentation explored how computational and atomistic methods can help researchers understand molecular interactions in different solvent environments and provide insights into complex chemical processes.
Sanja and Andrijana Bilić were also actively involved in the organization of the symposium as members of the local organizing committee.
Special recognition goes to Prof. Slobodan Gadžurić, whose dedication and leadership were instrumental in bringing this prestigious IUPAC-sponsored event to the University of Novi Sad.
Hosting ISSP21 was an excellent opportunity to welcome international colleagues to Novi Sad, exchange scientific experiences and strengthen existing research connections.
More information: ISSP21 official website.
Contemporary Materials 2024: Polymers, Water Purification and Advanced Materials
Another important event was the Contemporary Materials 2024 conference, which brought together researchers working on advanced materials and their applications in environmental protection, medicine and technology.
Sanja delivered a plenary lecture entitled “Exploring the Role of Polymers in Water Purification: Experiments, Modeling, and Machine Learning.”
Her presentation highlighted the potential of polymer-based materials for water purification and demonstrated how experimental investigations, computational modeling and machine-learning techniques can be combined to better understand and improve the performance of these materials.
The EMOS research group also contributed two posters, prepared in collaboration with Andrijana Bilić, Maria M. Savanović, Svetlana Pelemiš, Sanja and Stevan.
The first poster explored the potential of carbon nanotubes for binding pharmaceutical molecules, while the second investigated the environmental applications of UV-activated TiO₂-modified acrylic self-cleaning surfaces.
These contributions reflected the group’s ongoing interest in developing functional materials and understanding their interactions with environmentally relevant compounds through complementary experimental and computational approaches.
The conference also provided opportunities to exchange ideas with colleagues working in materials science and explore possibilities for future scientific collaboration.
More information: Contemporary Materials conference website.
OPTICS-12: Presenting Research in Yerevan, Armenia
International scientific activities during 2024 also included participation in the 12th International Symposium on Optics & Its Applications (OPTICS-12), held at Yerevan State University in Yerevan, Armenia.
Andrijana Bilić represented the EMOS research group and presented collaborative research entitled:
“Computational Insights into UV Spectrophotometric Behavior of PMMA in the Presence of Pharmaceutical Pollutants through Atomistic Calculations.”
The research explored how atomistic calculations can contribute to understanding the optical behavior of polymer systems interacting with pharmaceutical pollutants, connecting computational chemistry with environmentally relevant materials research.
Andrijana’s participation provided an opportunity to share research results with an international scientific audience, exchange ideas and establish new professional contacts.
The symposium was organized by colleagues including Prof. David Blaschke and Prof. Narine Gevorgyan, whose efforts helped create a welcoming and scientifically stimulating environment.
Beyond the scientific program, the conference was also an opportunity to experience Yerevan and strengthen connections with researchers from different countries.
More information: OPTICS-12 official website.
A Year of Scientific Exchange and Collaboration
Looking back, these conferences illustrate several important aspects of Sanja’s and Stevan’s scientific activities in 2024.
The research presented throughout the year connected experimental chemistry, advanced materials, atomistic modeling, environmental applications and emerging data-driven methods, reflecting the increasing importance of interdisciplinary approaches in modern science.
Equally important was the participation of younger colleagues, particularly Andrijana and Maria, whose involvement in scientific conferences and collaborative research represents an essential part of their professional development.
Scientific meetings are not only opportunities to present results. They also provide space for discussions, new ideas, international friendships and collaborations that may continue long after the events themselves have ended.
For us, 2024 was another rewarding year of scientific exchange, shared research and international cooperation, with many valuable experiences and connections to build upon in the years ahead.
Photo gallery from Andrijana's PhD defense
Photo gallery from Milinko's PhD defense
